Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum for students is important because it helps students learn essential skills to navigate social, emotional, and academic challenges, both in school and beyond.

In the 2025-26 school year, MVWSD implemented an SEL curriculum, Character Strong, to help students develop self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and decision-making abilities, all of which are crucial for their overall well-being and success.

The CharacterStrong Curriculum is a comprehensive platform that provides social-emotional skills lessons, monthly character trait themes and activities, activities for students who need support, and schoolwide resources.  Families can learn more about CharacterStrong’s program at this website. 

At the Elementary level, MVWSD is implementing the “Tier 1” Curriculum, which includes SEL lessons, schoolwide and classroom community and relationship-building activities, and emotional regulation activities. At the Middle School level, MVWSD is implementing the “Tier 2” Curriculum, which provides our school counseling team with specific SEL skill-building lessons and activities for use in small groups.  

School counselors and teachers lead SEL instruction once per month in grades K-5.  At the middle school level, small groups are identified through the SEL Survey on the Panorama platform and provided with CharacterStrong activities or lessons that meet student needs. 

Since 2025-26 is a learning year, teacher and parent feedback is important.  At each trimester, opportunities for feedback will be offered. As a result of ongoing feedback, we will make any adjustments to our plan for the 2026-2027 school year.  

Background:

In 2024-25, the Social Emotional Learning Curriculum Committee worked on MVWSD's goal of recommending a SEL curriculum for the 2025-2026 school year to the Board of Trustees. This recommendation aligns with SP2027 and direction from the Board of Trustees.

Committee: The committee included representatives from each school, two parents, and one community member, bringing a wide range of experience and perspectives. After data review, the committee used a strategy from the National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) to narrow down over 100 curriculum options to 27 that best met district needs in program offerings, materials, and professional development. They invited the MVWSD Community (teachers, staff, families) to review and provide feedback on the pilot curricula in March during community review sessions (March 13 and 20)

Recommendation: After piloting two curricula in January and February 2025, the committee recommended Character Strong. You can find an overview here:  Elementary   Middle School

On May 8, 2025 staff brought recommendations to the Board of Trustees for SEL Curriculum adoption, data management tool, and community partnership agreement. Trustees approved on May 29, 2025 (see the presentation here):
*  CharacterStrong as district SEL Curriculum
*  Panorama as SEL data management tool.
* Continued partnership with Project Cornerstone. 
To read more about the recommendation, click here
SEL Survey and Mental Health Screening
In grades 3-8, three times this school year—in September, November, and March— students will take a Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Survey (Gr 3-5 ENG/ ESP & Gr 6-8 ENG/ ESP) through Panorama, which replaces the twice-yearly Sown to Grow SEL survey. This new tool helps us efficiently & effectively identify students who may need extra support, such as school counseling or participation in a small group intervention.
In grades 6-8, if a student’s SEL Survey results fall in the “moderate” or “high” needs range, they will meet up to two times in a small group with a school counselor. These sessions use our District’s SEL curriculum, CharacterStrong, and include completing the Youth Needs Screener.
Paper copies of the SEL Survey and Youth Needs Screener are available for review at our school. For questions, please email [email protected] or call 650-526-3500 x1130.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Parent Reports Now Available
The Parent/Guardian Report offers a table organizing students’ average rating for each of seven (7) topics from their most recent SEL Screener survey.
Students self-reported in six key areas:
• Self-efficacy
• Self-management
• Positive feelings
• Supportive relationships
• Challenging feelings
• Emotion regulation
Parents will see some sections of the report include a “Try This!” This feature lists simple strategies and conversation starters you can use at home. If you have questions about your child’s report, please reach out to your school counselor.
Here are the steps to access your students’ SEL report.

1. Login to Powerschool.

2. Click on parent reports on the left hand menu


3. Choose this school year

4. And then click on the SEL reports tab. 

5. Click on the report link to view in a preview window, or the blue “download” button on the right to save it to your computer.

6. View the report!